A Context Statement Prepared by: Alixandra Kaufman
Mount Pleasant High School
Fall 2012
434 Mount Pleasant Ave.
Providence, RI 02908
Phone: 401-456-9181
Introduction:
Welcome to Mount Pleasant High School where we provide a challenging academic experience for students that encourages life-long learning. We endeavor to provide students with a safe, healthy learning environment when they have opportunities to maximize their potential as responsible citizens and active members of society! Here at Mount Pleasant public High School, serving grades 9 through 12 in Providence, Rhode Island. Mount Pleasant is a working-class residential neighborhood situated in the northwest of the city Providence Rhode Island. Mount Pleasant is considered to be one of the most stable neighborhoods in Providence. Mount Pleasant High school has become an outlet for students to enhance and enrich their social skills as young adults and has provided the resources to become well rounded individuals as they progress into their college years. The school is surrounded by beautiful athletic fields, Mount Pleasant seems more like a suburban school than an urban school. Mount Pleasant High School offers a wide variety of Extracurricular Activities for their students such as: Boys Soccer, Boys Outdoor Track and Field, Book Club, Creative Writing, Culture Club, Debate Team, Girls Outdoor Track and Field as well as Cross Country Training and many more! These students may participate in a wide variety of clubs, they also have a large number of opportunities to stay active in community service which is also offered through the school! Parents and community members are also welcome for school visits to learn about goals for the year and to meet the outstanding teachers. Members of the School Board, City Council and Central Administration are also welcome!
The following context statement is intended to inform parents, perspective students and even teachers about the performance of the students who attend this High School tracking back through the last decade. This will include information about the district, the schools performance itself and background information about the community.
Community Background:
Mount Pleasant is a working-class residential neighborhood situated in the northwest city of Providence, Rhode Island. It is bordered by Olneyville to the south, Valley to the east, Manton to the west, and Elmhurst to the northeast. Mount Pleasant is one of Providence's most stable neighborhoods. According to the 1990 census, less than half of all Mount Pleasant residents moved their current residence in the past five years; nearly four out of ten residents had lived in their present unit for more than a decade, and almost one out of five had lived in his or her current home for more than twenty years.Various large educational institutions are located in Mount Pleasant including Rhode Island College, Mount Pleasant High School and LaSalle Academy. Mount Pleasant was one of the last sections of the city of Providence to be developed, because of this, most of the houses are of medium size on well landscaped lots and tree lined streets.There is a significant number of houses constructed and is in a commercial strip area. It is a thriving part of the neighborhood today, including a full-service grocery store, a bank, service stations, pharmacies, bakeries, tailors, barber shops, meat markets, restaurants and pubs! Mount Pleasant High School! Mount Pleasant had always been middle and upper-middle class, the area gradually became more diverse and the area became more congested with people of various nationalities. The incidence of poverty in Mount Pleasant increased slightly in all categories over the past decade, although poverty rates remained well below the citywide figures. In 1990, less than 10% of all persons were poor, about 7% off families were living below poverty, 16% of children were poor and about 12% of the elderly had income below the poverty level.
Economic Characteristics/ Demographics:
Providence
Rhode Island
United States
Median Household Income
$37,619
$42,090
$50,054
Median Family Income
$32,058
$46,136
$51,914
Per Capita Income
$19,255
$31,916
$41,560
Families Below Poverty Level
29.5%
15.2%
10.5%
Individuals Below Poverty Level
10.0%
4.9%
14.3%
Mount Pleasant is a relatively affluent community. In the year 2011, the median household income ($37,619) was not far below the State median household income ($42,090). However, Mount Pleasant, located in Providence, Rhode Island is a high populated area and subjected to various types of crimes and poverty. The median Household income falls below the United States income which is $50,054. The Median Family Income($32,058) as well as the Per Capita Income ($19,255) is outrageously lower than the states average Median family income ($46,136) and Per Capita income ($31,916). Also the United States Median Household income ($50,054) as well as the Median Family Income ($51,914) is incredibly higher than The city of Providence' incomes.
We can also gather from the information provided that The numbers for the families below poverty level and individuals below poverty level are quite high. The percentage for Families Below Poverty Level is 29.5% for Providence, for the state of Rhode Island, it is 15.2% and the United States shows 10.5%. For Providence, Rhode Island, the Individuals below poverty level is 10.0% which is higher than the state of Rhode Island which is 4.9% and lower than the United States Individual Poverty Level which is 14.4%
School Analysis/ District Summary:
Mount Pleasant High School is one of many high school serving the Providence School District. In order to gain better understanding of academic performance of this school and its students, Mount Pleasant High school will be compared to two other Rhode Island School Districts: Central Falls and Chariho. In general, Mount Pleasant High School falls in between Central Falls and Chariho High schools, both comprising of alarming statistics, Central Falls consisting of the worst. Chariho appears to be the best performer. To begin this comparison, the student-teacher ratios, and student characteristics of each district's will be listed below. This is very important information to consider before sending your children to school.
Characteristic
State
Central Falls
Mount Pleasant
Chariho
Teachers with Emergency Certification
1%
7%
6%
0%
Not Highly Qualified Teachers
3%
25%
3%
0%
Teacher-Student Ratio
1:11
1:11
1:12
1:10
Academic Performance: NECAP Assessments
These two graphs for the Mount Pleasant High School Proficiency assessment is below average. Most of the students scores display they are not proficient in the subjects of Math or Reading or Writing, either two of the above, or maybe even all of the above. The results of these exams are quite alarming to papers, teachers, administrators and the students themselves. Steps have been taken to improve the scores of these young adults like the tutoring centers and extra help offered through the teachers which are free of charge. In Grade 11, students were 2% proficient in Math, 34% Proficient in Reading, 12% proficient in writing and 3% proficient in science. The Proficiency levels are extremely low. Comparing these scores with the states proficiency scores is quite the contrast. The state of Rhode Island has 30% proficiency in Math, 76% proficiency in reading, 51% proficiency in writing and 26% proficiency in science. It appears that Math and Writing are the hardest areas in which the students struggle the most. Over the years, students have improved their skills in these two areas and scores have gotten better, some students also do not participate in these assessments as well and that needs to be taken into account.
Providence
Rhode Island
High School Graduates
72.7%
83.7%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
29.0%
30.3%
Mean travel time to work (minutes)
21.5
22.9
Race / Ethnicity
People QuickFacts
Providence
Rhode Island
White persons, percent, 2010
49.8%
81.4%
Black persons, percent 2010
16.0%
5.7%
American Indian and Alaska Native persons, percent, 2010
1.4%
0.6%
Asian Persons, percent, 2010
6.4%
2.9%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, percent, 2010
0.1%
0.1%
Persons reporting two or more races, percent, 2010
6.5%
3.3%
Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin, percent, 2010
38.1%
12.4%
White persons not Hispanic, percent, 2010
37.6%
76.4%
Providence
Rhode Island
United States
White
460,033
856,869
64.7%
Black/African Americans
53,040
60,189
12.2%
Asian
23,006
30,457
4.5%
Hispanic
117,819
130,655
16.0%
American Indian/ Alaska Native
420
6,058
1.5%
Mount Pleasant High School:
The population of Mount Pleasant High School is predominantly Hispanic. This school has a population of 1,241 students and offers education from grades nine all the way to twelve! There are a total of 79 teachers at this high school and has an outstanding student to teacher ratio of 16:1! The average student to teacher ratio is 13:1 in the state of Rhode Island which is incredible for students because they can greatly benefit from having a hands on education and develop a close relationship with their teachers. There are more males that attend this school with the percentage being 52%-48%.
In 2004, 81.1% of Rhode Islanders age 25 and older were high school graduates. Approximately 27.2% had obtained a bachelor's degree or higher.
The total enrollment for fall 2002 in Rhode Island's public schools stood at 159,000. Of these, 113,000 attended schools from kindergarten through grade eight, and 47,000 attended high school. Approximately 71.2% of the students were white, 8.5% were black, 16.4% were Hispanic, 3.2% were Asian／Pacific Islander, and 0.6% were American Indian／Alaskan Native. Total enrollment was estimated at 160,000 in fall 2003 and expected to be 154,000 by fall 2014, a decline of 3.6% during the period 2002 to 2014. Expenditures for public education in 2003／04 were estimated at $1.7 billion, or $9,903 per student, the 10th-highest among the 50 states. In fall 2003 there were 28,119 students enrolled in 139 private schools. Since 1969, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) has tested public school students nationwide. The resulting report, The Nation's Report Card, stated that in 2005, eighth graders in Rhode Island scored 272 out of 500 in mathematics compared with the national average of 278.
As of fall 2002, there were 77,417 students enrolled in college or graduate school; minority students comprised 16.4% of total post secondary enrollment. In 2005 Rhode Island had 13 degree-granting institutions. Leading institutions include Brown University (1764) in Providence; the University of Rhode Island (1892) in Kingston; and Providence College (1917). The Rhode Island School of Design (1877) is located in Providence.
Safety and Prevention:
A total of 674 out of school suspensions have taken place and there have been zero in school suspensions in Mount Pleasant High School. There are twelve alternate programs offered within this high school. It appears as though the most outrageous act is the very act of skipping class or skipping school. While looking at the chart, it shows that there has been a total of 164 cases of this. There has been 104 cases of insubordination or disrespect towards the staff as well as 122 cases of skipping school or skipping detention. There has been 97 cases of disorderly conduct or violence. The violence rate is quite high, higher than an average school or a school in a suburban area.
Conclusion: Please give us a chance and come take a look at our school! We are an exceptionally friendly crowd with kind students and a warm and welcoming staff. We are willing to do anything possible to help our students achieve their ultimate goals when they have graduated Mount Pleasant High School! We are looking to improve our assessment results and to better the lives of each young individual! We are trying to work towards a better atmosphere for our students to improve their futures. While reviewing this context statement it is important to pay attention to the assessment results and test scores that the school has to show. The student to teachers ratios are rather important as well being that your son or daughter should get a hands on education. Over the course of ten years, this school has not made much progress in the success of passing the NECAPs, they are still below the proficiency level. Every student is entitled to a quality education and they are many programs that have been created to help your children and our students succeed. We have made it very easy for your children to contact their teacher and other faculties members to receive extra help if they are determined to receive positive results. This context statement shows parents what they are looking for in the school, where Mount Pleasant High School is located, academic performance, staff qualifications, safety statistics and much more. Check us out at:http://www.providenceschools.org/high-schools/mount-pleasant
References:
Sabnis, A. (2000). Purple Pedagogy: Lillial Turnipseed Demands That Her Students Survive and Flourish Despite a.. Women's Studies Quarterly, 28(3/4), 330.
Rubric Peer Evaluation / Feedback for EDC 102 Context Statement Author: (Person who wrote report.)Editor: Dan Murray The purpose of the context statement in EDC 102 is to provide each student with an opportunity to demonstrate his or her ability to research a school, its district, and its community in order to better understand its strengths and challenges. Each report should describe their school based solely on evidence that they cite in their Reference section. As a peer editor, your tasks are:
Read author's report.
Carefully evaluate report by assigning a score for each criterion
provide constructive comments that will help the strengthen the author's report for each category.
Create a link to your evaluation at the end of the report.
Introduction = 5/ 5 pts.
5 - Intro provides an overview of the upcoming analysis, including what school/district/community is being analyzed, what aspects are being analyzed, and who the report is intended to inform.
4 - Intro names the school/district/community and previews the scope of the report, but does not describe who the report is intended to inform.
3 - Intro names the school/district/community but not much else.
2 - Intro fails to name the school, district, and community.
0 - No introduction section is apparent.
Constructive comments about report's introduction: Excellent set up for what the reader was going to be presented with in the project.
Organization = 5/ 5 pts.
5 - Report includes an Introduction, a Conclusion, and sections for the School, District, and Community. Within each section, paragraphs logically group the information presented.
4 - Report includes all of the sections mentioned previously, but does not break down information into paragraphs within each section.
3 - Report is missing one of the sections.
2 - Report is missing more than one section.
0 - Report does not include any sections.
Strengths and constructive comments about report's organization: The project was organized in a very comprehensive manner.
Mechanics = 4/ 5 pts.
5 - All information in the report is cited using APA styled- citations after the information and in a Reference section at the end of the report.
and
There are extremely few typos and misspelled words in the report.
4 - Most information is cited using APA style.
and/or
There are a noticeable number of typos or misspellings.
3 - Some citations in the References section are not in APA style, e.g. URLs are listed without the title of the website.
and/or
There are many typos, misspellings, or other writing errors.
2 - Most of the report's information is not cited, or APA style was not used.
0 - Report does not include a Reference section.
Strengths and constructive comments about report's organization: No in text citations, strong mechanics otherwise.
Conclusion = 4/ 5 pts.
5 - Conclusion reviews analysis of school, district and community and describes why findings should be important to reader.
4 - Conclusion reviews analysis of school, district and community.
3 - Conclusion does not refer back to report findings.
0 - No conclusion section is apparent.
Strengths and constructive comments about conclusion:
Creativity = 4/ 5 pts.
5 - Report is written in an engaging style.
4 - Report has some interesting sections.
3 - Report generally reports information without seemingly without purpose.
Strengths and constructive comments about presentation: Very creative diagrams and pictures. Fun to read.
Thoroughness = 9/10 pts
5 - Report includes at least ten different facts in each section (school, community, district) and
compares each figure with another relevant figure (e.g. state or national average) and
states whether or not the school is meeting NCLB standards.
4 - Report includes at least eight different facts in each section and
compares most figures with relevant values and
states whether or not the school is meeting NCLB standards.
3 - Report includes at least six different facts in each section and
compares some of the figures to other relevant figures
2 - Report includes at least four different facts in each section and
compares some of the figures to other relevant figures.
0 - Report includes less than four different facts for any section or
fails to compare any figures with other relevant figures.
Very Thorough presentation, covered everything in a comprehensive, easy to read manner.Overall: 32/35
A Context Statement Prepared by: Alixandra Kaufman
Mount Pleasant High School
Fall 2012
434 Mount Pleasant Ave.
Providence, RI 02908
Phone: 401-456-9181
Introduction:
Welcome to Mount Pleasant High School where we provide a challenging academic experience for students that encourages life-long learning. We endeavor to provide students with a safe, healthy learning environment when they have opportunities to maximize their potential as responsible citizens and active members of society! Here at Mount Pleasant public High School, serving grades 9 through 12 in Providence, Rhode Island. Mount Pleasant is a working-class residential neighborhood situated in the northwest of the city Providence Rhode Island. Mount Pleasant is considered to be one of the most stable neighborhoods in Providence. Mount Pleasant High school has become an outlet for students to enhance and enrich their social skills as young adults and has provided the resources to become well rounded individuals as they progress into their college years. The school is surrounded by beautiful athletic fields, Mount Pleasant seems more like a suburban school than an urban school. Mount Pleasant High School offers a wide variety of Extracurricular Activities for their students such as: Boys Soccer, Boys Outdoor Track and Field, Book Club, Creative Writing, Culture Club, Debate Team, Girls Outdoor Track and Field as well as Cross Country Training and many more! These students may participate in a wide variety of clubs, they also have a large number of opportunities to stay active in community service which is also offered through the school! Parents and community members are also welcome for school visits to learn about goals for the year and to meet the outstanding teachers. Members of the School Board, City Council and Central Administration are also welcome!The following context statement is intended to inform parents, perspective students and even teachers about the performance of the students who attend this High School tracking back through the last decade. This will include information about the district, the schools performance itself and background information about the community.
Community Background:
Mount Pleasant is a working-class residential neighborhood situated in the northwest city of Providence, Rhode Island. It is bordered by Olneyville to the south, Valley to the east, Manton to the west, and Elmhurst to the northeast. Mount Pleasant is one of Providence's most stable neighborhoods. According to the 1990 census, less than half of all Mount Pleasant residents moved their current residence in the past five years; nearly four out of ten residents had lived in their present unit for more than a decade, and almost one out of five had lived in his or her current home for more than twenty years.Various large educational institutions are located in Mount Pleasant including Rhode Island College, Mount Pleasant High School and LaSalle Academy. Mount Pleasant was one of the last sections of the city of Providence to be developed, because of this, most of the houses are of medium size on well landscaped lots and tree lined streets.There is a significant number of houses constructed and is in a commercial strip area. It is a thriving part of the neighborhood today, including a full-service grocery store, a bank, service stations, pharmacies, bakeries, tailors, barber shops, meat markets, restaurants and pubs! Mount Pleasant High School! Mount Pleasant had always been middle and upper-middle class, the area gradually became more diverse and the area became more congested with people of various nationalities. The incidence of poverty in Mount Pleasant increased slightly in all categories over the past decade, although poverty rates remained well below the citywide figures. In 1990, less than 10% of all persons were poor, about 7% off families were living below poverty, 16% of children were poor and about 12% of the elderly had income below the poverty level.Economic Characteristics/ Demographics:
We can also gather from the information provided that The numbers for the families below poverty level and individuals below poverty level are quite high. The percentage for Families Below Poverty Level is 29.5% for Providence, for the state of Rhode Island, it is 15.2% and the United States shows 10.5%. For Providence, Rhode Island, the Individuals below poverty level is 10.0% which is higher than the state of Rhode Island which is 4.9% and lower than the United States Individual Poverty Level which is 14.4%
School Analysis/ District Summary:
Mount Pleasant High School is one of many high school serving the Providence School District. In order to gain better understanding of academic performance of this school and its students, Mount Pleasant High school will be compared to two other Rhode Island School Districts: Central Falls and Chariho. In general, Mount Pleasant High School falls in between Central Falls and Chariho High schools, both comprising of alarming statistics, Central Falls consisting of the worst. Chariho appears to be the best performer. To begin this comparison, the student-teacher ratios, and student characteristics of each district's will be listed below. This is very important information to consider before sending your children to school.Academic Performance: NECAP Assessments
These two graphs for the Mount Pleasant High School Proficiency assessment is below average. Most of the students scores display they are not proficient in the subjects of Math or Reading or Writing, either two of the above, or maybe even all of the above. The results of these exams are quite alarming to papers, teachers, administrators and the students themselves. Steps have been taken to improve the scores of these young adults like the tutoring centers and extra help offered through the teachers which are free of charge. In Grade 11, students were 2% proficient in Math, 34% Proficient in Reading, 12% proficient in writing and 3% proficient in science. The Proficiency levels are extremely low. Comparing these scores with the states proficiency scores is quite the contrast. The state of Rhode Island has 30% proficiency in Math, 76% proficiency in reading, 51% proficiency in writing and 26% proficiency in science. It appears that Math and Writing are the hardest areas in which the students struggle the most. Over the years, students have improved their skills in these two areas and scores have gotten better, some students also do not participate in these assessments as well and that needs to be taken into account.
Race / Ethnicity
Mount Pleasant High School:
The population of Mount Pleasant High School is predominantly Hispanic. This school has a population of 1,241 students and offers education from grades nine all the way to twelve! There are a total of 79 teachers at this high school and has an outstanding student to teacher ratio of 16:1! The average student to teacher ratio is 13:1 in the state of Rhode Island which is incredible for students because they can greatly benefit from having a hands on education and develop a close relationship with their teachers. There are more males that attend this school with the percentage being 52%-48%.
In 2004, 81.1% of Rhode Islanders age 25 and older were high school graduates. Approximately 27.2% had obtained a bachelor's degree or higher.
The total enrollment for fall 2002 in Rhode Island's public schools stood at 159,000. Of these, 113,000 attended schools from kindergarten through grade eight, and 47,000 attended high school. Approximately 71.2% of the students were white, 8.5% were black, 16.4% were Hispanic, 3.2% were Asian／Pacific Islander, and 0.6% were American Indian／Alaskan Native. Total enrollment was estimated at 160,000 in fall 2003 and expected to be 154,000 by fall 2014, a decline of 3.6% during the period 2002 to 2014. Expenditures for public education in 2003／04 were estimated at $1.7 billion, or $9,903 per student, the 10th-highest among the 50 states. In fall 2003 there were 28,119 students enrolled in 139 private schools. Since 1969, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) has tested public school students nationwide. The resulting report, The Nation's Report Card, stated that in 2005, eighth graders in Rhode Island scored 272 out of 500 in mathematics compared with the national average of 278.
As of fall 2002, there were 77,417 students enrolled in college or graduate school; minority students comprised 16.4% of total post secondary enrollment. In 2005 Rhode Island had 13 degree-granting institutions. Leading institutions include Brown University (1764) in Providence; the University of Rhode Island (1892) in Kingston; and Providence College (1917). The Rhode Island School of Design (1877) is located in Providence.
Safety and Prevention:
A total of 674 out of school suspensions have taken place and there have been zero in school suspensions in Mount Pleasant High School. There are twelve alternate programs offered within this high school. It appears as though the most outrageous act is the very act of skipping class or skipping school. While looking at the chart, it shows that there has been a total of 164 cases of this. There has been 104 cases of insubordination or disrespect towards the staff as well as 122 cases of skipping school or skipping detention. There has been 97 cases of disorderly conduct or violence. The violence rate is quite high, higher than an average school or a school in a suburban area.
Conclusion:
Please give us a chance and come take a look at our school! We are an exceptionally friendly crowd with kind students and a warm and welcoming staff. We are willing to do anything possible to help our students achieve their ultimate goals when they have graduated Mount Pleasant High School! We are looking to improve our assessment results and to better the lives of each young individual! We are trying to work towards a better atmosphere for our students to improve their futures. While reviewing this context statement it is important to pay attention to the assessment results and test scores that the school has to show. The student to teachers ratios are rather important as well being that your son or daughter should get a hands on education. Over the course of ten years, this school has not made much progress in the success of passing the NECAPs, they are still below the proficiency level. Every student is entitled to a quality education and they are many programs that have been created to help your children and our students succeed. We have made it very easy for your children to contact their teacher and other faculties members to receive extra help if they are determined to receive positive results. This context statement shows parents what they are looking for in the school, where Mount Pleasant High School is located, academic performance, staff qualifications, safety statistics and much more. Check us out at: http://www.providenceschools.org/high-schools/mount-pleasant
Please Contact Any One of Us!
Principal - Scott sutherland - Scott.Sutherland@ppsd.org
Assistant Principle - Christopher Coleman - Christopher.Coleman@ppsd.org
Robert DiMuccio - Robert.Dimuccio@ppsd.org
Michaela Keegan - Michaela.Keegan@ppsd.org
Oscar Paz - Oscar.Paz@ppsd.org
References:
Sabnis, A. (2000). Purple Pedagogy: Lillial Turnipseed Demands That Her Students Survive and Flourish Despite a..
Women's Studies Quarterly, 28(3/4), 330.
Providence Schools (2012). Mount Pleasant High School. retrieved from
http://www.providenceschools.org/high-schools/mount-pleasant
U.S. Census Bureau (2012). American Fact Finder. Retrieved November 4, 2012 from
http://factfiner2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml.
Rubric
Peer Evaluation / Feedback for EDC 102 Context Statement
Author: (Person who wrote report.) Editor: Dan Murray
The purpose of the context statement in EDC 102 is to provide each student with an opportunity to demonstrate his or her ability to research a school, its district, and its community in order to better understand its strengths and challenges. Each report should describe their school based solely on evidence that they cite in their Reference section.
As a peer editor, your tasks are:
Introduction = 5/ 5 pts.
Organization = 5/ 5 pts.
Mechanics = 4/ 5 pts.
and
There are extremely few typos and misspelled words in the report.
and/or
There are a noticeable number of typos or misspellings.
and/or
There are many typos, misspellings, or other writing errors.
Conclusion = 4/ 5 pts.
Creativity = 4/ 5 pts.
Thoroughness = 9/10 pts
compares each figure with another relevant figure (e.g. state or national average) and
states whether or not the school is meeting NCLB standards.
compares most figures with relevant values and
states whether or not the school is meeting NCLB standards.
compares some of the figures to other relevant figures
compares some of the figures to other relevant figures.
fails to compare any figures with other relevant figures.